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(No Model.)

J. G. ST. JOHN.

IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented May 4', 1886.

D EFGBAFAGFGEF D EFGBAFAGFGED AdCBAAFAGFGEF AdCBAAFAGFGED AGEUEFAHCBAAFUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. ST. JOHN, 0F NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ED\VARD G. BLACK, OFSAME PLACE.

WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,181, dated May 4,1886.

Application filed December 26, 1885.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN 0. ST. JOHN, of thecity, county, and State of New York, (assigner to EDWARD G. BLAOIQ) haveinvented Improvements in Wind Musical Instruments; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and correct description of the same,reference being had to the accompaning drawings, making part of thisspecification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which-Figure lis atop view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same,the sliding rail being shown partially drawn down and certain of themovable covering-plates as open; Fig. 3, a side view of the invention,the sliding rail partially drawn down and certain of .the movablecovering-plates as open; Fig. 4, a

cross-section of the instrument with the printed card in position; Fig.5, a view of the printed card employed with the instrument.

In the drawings,like parts of the invention are designated by the sameletters of reference.

The nature of thepresentinvention consists in improvements, ashereinafter set forth, in wind musical instruments, somewhat resemblingthe flute or fiageolet, the Qbject of the invention being the productionat a low cost of a wind musical instrument of the class named.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willdescribe the same.

A shows a tube, formed preferably of metal, provided with a mouthpiece,B, and a series of perforations, 0, upon its upper surface. Over theseperforations O are placed a series of movable closing-plates, D, formedof spring-metal, and provided upon their under sides with a thickness offelt, leather, or suitable material, which, when the plates aredepressed, will snugly fit over the perforations over which the platesare pressed. The plates D are so constructed as to project beyond thetube A on one side that they may be raised, as hereinaf ter set forth,and on the other side that suflicient elasticity of metal may be availedof to cause them to be self-closing, as hereinafter set forth.

The tube A is provided on one side with a rail, E, over which is passedand moves freely Serial No. 156,711. (No model.)

a looped plate, F, supporting a short rail or strip of metal, G, havingits forward and rear ends inclined,as shown.

H is a flat plate attached to the rail or strip G, and serving as ahandle to move the same up or down,or change its position,as required.From the upper surface of the plate H projects the pointer I.

The movable plates D may have affixed to their upper surfaces letters toindicate the notes which will result when they are raised, ashereinafter set forth,and the instrument is being performed on. I donot, however, consider this as absolutely necessary,and probably in theuse of the instrument by a competent musician they would not berequired. Aprinted card (designated as J, and shown in Fig.5, isintended to indicate to the performer what notes it will be necessary toproduce upon the instrument to perform the selection of music shown uponthe same. This may be held in a clip, K, composed of the two plates ofmetal attached to the forward end of the tube A, as shown.

Such being the construction, the operation may be thus described. Theinstrument is held in the hand of the performer by passing the fingersof the hand through and around the looped handle L, and in order toproduce any desired note the mouth-piece B is placed in the moutlnandthe rail G is moved by means of the plate H, grasped by the other handof the performer, until the pointer I is brought about opposite thecenter of the particular plate D covering the particular perforation inthe tube A. As the rail Gis moved down,as described, the inclined end ofthe same easily raises the desired movable plate, and the party blowingin the mouth piece the air passes down the tube Aand through theparticular perforation in the same, and the result will be theproduction of the desired note. It will be observed that the rail G isof sufficient length to allow three of the movable plates to be keptraised at one time, so that a proper tone can be given to the noteproduced by opening these three plates. After the rear inclined end ofthe rail G has passed fully beyond any one of the plates D,the same isclosed over and which causes it to resume the position it occupiedbefore being opened.

The instrument can be afforded at a low cost, and can be easilyoperated.

Having now set forth my invention, I claim as new 1. Thecombination,with a tube, A, provided with a moutl1-piece,B,aseries ofperforations, O, and a corresponding number of movable plates, D, of amovable rail, G, constructed and operating substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination,with a tube,A, provide with a mouth-piece, B, aseries of perforations, O, and a corresponding number of movable plates,D, of a movable rail, G, provided with the plate H, substantially as andfor the purpose indicated.

3. The combination,with a tube, A, provided witha mouth-piece, B, aseries of perforations, O, and a corresponding number of movable plates,D, of a movable rail,G, provided with the plate H and pointer I,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination,with a tube,A, provided with a mouth-piece, B,and aseries of perforations,O, of a series of lettered movable plates D, anda movable rail, G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination,with a tube, A, having a mouth-piece, B, theperforations G, and the lettered movable plates D, of a movable rail,

G, and printed card J, as and for the purpose 3 5 fully described.

JOHN 0. ST.' JOHN. In presence of- WV. V. H. HIoKs, A. SIDNEY DOANE.

